"Its about a fifty-fifty: they definitely do scavenge sometimes but people don't manage that very well, so they do seem to get chased away by the birds," said Dr John Martin, ecologist and wildlife officer at the botanic gardens and centennial parklands, who has worked with the Australian white ibis for 15 years.

Instead, he thinks the bird is one of Australia's most interesting native species. Highly adaptive and mobile, their natural habitat in interior wetlands was significantly diminished in the 1970s due to changed water flow and urbanisation. However, unlike other affected species, the ibis made the surprise move to near the coast, where their numbers thrived.

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"The ibis have actually been one of the survivors that have shifted to the coast and adapted their behaviour," said Dr John Martin.

Since their move to the big smoke, ibis have altered their diet and developed a fearless approach to human contact. This less-than-timid behaviour makes them disliked by locals but a hit with tourists.

"They're really interested in this bird that looks so different – it's got these long legs and long bill and they think its a bit like a dinosaur. To them it's fascinating that they can get really close to these birds," said Dr Martin.

In its new urban habitat, the ibis relies on rubbish for food, with 40 per cent estimated to eat at landfills every day, leading to concern about disease. However Dr Martin said tests carried out do not support health fears and he recommends similar precautions to those taken with pets.

The Australian white ibis is known to live a highly mobile 11 years, with adults able to make 70-kilometre round trips in a day.Credit:Kate Geraghty

"You have to behave with these wild birds in pretty much the same way, you wouldn't go and touch something dirty and put your hands in your mouth, you would go wash your hands," he said.

The Australian white ibis is known to live a highly mobile 11 years, with adults able to make 70-kilometre round trips in a day.

This makes numbers hard to measure, but surveys are done through an annual sighting report at the height of breeding season.

"In October we counted about 5700 birds in the Sydney region, it's a fairly accurate count but it definitely is an underestimate," said Dr Martin.

He also said that, despite its nuisance status, the ibis didn't deserve to be controlled in the same way as other perceived pests.

"What we really need is refuge habitat where they can breed and everyone is happy for them to be there and it doesn't impact on anyone. They are a native species, they deserve to have their space as well," he said.